Residents view construction plans for Illinois 173

MACHESNEY PARK — A wider Illinois 173 has been on many residents’ wish list since the area developed into a commercial haven that continues to see more and more traffic.

Kevin Haas

MACHESNEY PARK — A wider Illinois 173 has been on many residents’ wish list since the area developed into a commercial haven that continues to see more and more traffic.

On Thursday, residents got a chance to see plans for the first construction stage during an open house hosted by the Illinois Department of Transportation at village hall.

The state plans to rebuild Illinois 173 from Smythe Avenue to Alpine Road in spring 2011. That stage is expected to be completed by 2012, before work progresses east along 173.

Over the course of two years, the road will be widened for two lanes of traffic in each direction with a raised 32-foot wide center median, curb, gutter and storm sewer system.

The project also includes intersection improvements, additional turning lanes and signal upgrades.

“I think it will be a big improvement because there is so much commercial space out there now,” said Ron Gieseke of Machesney Park, who made a short stop at the open house to see the plans. “It’s going to be a big improvement when they get it done ... it’s a good use of money.”

After improvements are complete to Alpine, the state would move forward with the rest of the project to widen 173 past Mitchell Road to the point where it matches up with two lanes in both directions near Interstate 90.

Illinois 173 had about 28,000 vehicles travel on it daily during traffic counts in 2005, according to IDOT.

“It’s going to stop a lot of these accidents. Forest Hills (Road) and Orlando (Street) are two of the biggest accident-prone intersections around,” Village President Tom Strickland said.

Strickland said it also would ease traffic congestion and help the many retail businesses along 173.

“It’s going to bring a lot of revenue to us down the road,” he said.

Staff writer Kevin Haas may be reached at khaas@rrstar.com or 815-987-1354.